Chapter 1071: Scorched World.

Kugugugung–!!!

Jjeojeojeojeok–!!!

With a rough impact, cracks continuously split the barrier. The space broadly surrounding us was collapsing as is.

Paseuseuseu.

Fragments shattered and fell to the floor, and the fallen fragments scattered, turning into dust.

Watching it repeat, I scrunched up my brow.

“—-!!!”

A roar is heard. It’s towards the Sacred Tree. More precisely, it was the source of the roots forming the barrier, so it wouldn’t be wrong to consider this roar the sound of Mujeogaeng.

“…This isn’t good.”

The turtle spoke in a low, submerged voice.

Woooong-! Light burst forth from the staff. The light covered the space enveloped by Mujeogaeng once more from below.

It seemed like an attempt to reinforce the barrier, but.

Kuaaaaaaa—-!!!!!

Kugugugung—!!!

With the shock that erupted once more, the overlaid barrier was torn apart as is.

“Keuk!”

The turtle’s body shook, as if it had taken the impact. Seeing that, I quickly approached the turtle.

“Elder-nim…!”

Hududuk.

Blood flowed from the turtle’s mouth.

Even what was being regenerated with heat was released. Still, it contained considerable energy, so to have it released so instantaneously… It meant a significant backlash had occurred.

Just as I was about to infuse energy once more.

“…Stay still.”

The turtle gripped my wrist.

“We need to hide our energy as much as possible… No, no. If it’s already a Nine-Tailed Fox, it would have noticed.”

Clearly showing a look of trouble, the turtle looked up at the sky. Following its gaze, I turned my head, and beyond the greatly cracked opening, a woman was looking this way.

A small body floating in the air.

Long, fluttering white hair and skin that matched it perfectly.

Furthermore, the extreme light contained within her eyes and several tails.

I knew it the moment I saw her.

‘That is divinity.’

The distant dignity and supreme presence felt from the woman. Is this the divinity that the Ancestor or Taekcheon spoke of?

‘This is on a different level.’

It’s different from Taekcheon, who borrowed someone else’s body, or Mujeogaeng, who is currently building the barrier for us. I could realize that it was true divinity just by seeing it.

No, rather, I cannot see it.

‘It’s so distant, I can’t grasp it.’

Because it’s on a different level, my five senses aren’t properly activating. Something that prevents even the recognition of this clearly dangerous situation. I could now understand that the being was such a thing.

Then. With a somewhat tired-looking face, the woman flicked her finger, and the extreme light filling the night sky moved. The extreme light, which had merely been filling the night sky, moved according to the woman’s call.

Kugugugugugugung—!!!

It transformed into a beam of light and struck the barrier down once more.

Kwang-!!!

The ground shook once again.

“—!!!”

Mujeogaeng let out a roar. The barrier tried to regenerate once more, but the speed of its destruction was faster.

Kung-! Kung-kung-!! Kugugung-!!!

Just as the area that had been shaking from the continuous impacts was about to collapse.

“Mujeogaeng.”

A chilling voice was heard from beyond the crack.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

A voice devoid of any emotion. The source of the power currently striking down. The Master of Manggye spoke to Mujeogaeng.

“I wondered where you ran off to, avoiding the karma you took upon yourself. Was it just here, of all places?”

“—!”

“The situation is not good. I don’t know the reason why, but. It would be best to stop now.”

My body trembled. Just hearing the voice made my soul resonate. It’s dreadful. The energies wandering without a vessel moved restlessly, as if reacting to the Master’s words. Because I hadn’t contained a vessel in my body, I felt the impact even more keenly.

“Keuk.”

My knees buckled. As I bent over, staggering, I felt a gaze this time. It’s heavy. I could feel the Master looking at me from afar.

When I managed to lift my head and look at the Master again.

“I see.”

The Master narrowed their eyes, looking at me as if they had realized something. It was chilling.

‘Different.’

Was it called Oblivion? I heard that the Master’s punishment was the oblivion of memory. As if to prove those words, her eyes were cold and chilling, as if covered in frost.

There was no emotion. It was a gaze like one looking at a fallen branch or a rock. It was so different from the gaze my mother gave me when I touched the Sacred Tree or when we met in the Central Plains. It was a gaze that seemed to show she was truly a different being.

“I wondered what you were hiding so much. It was like that back then too. Was it because of that?”

A finger moved.

Kugagagagang-!!!

A flash was fired once more. However, it was different from before. A stronger power was felt.

“It’s a Dragon.”

It was a word referring to me.

“What’s your intention in hiding the Dragon? That is merely the lingering attachment left by Yongje.”

As the words fell, the attack was added.

“Mujeogaeng. You should know, right? How troublesome Yongje’s traces can be.”

Kugung-! Kung-kung-!!!

Every time the bombardment poured down, my chest resonated. It was somehow different from merely being the aftermath of an impact. This is.

‘…Resonance.’

Energy was repelling from my body. It repelled ceaselessly, as if urging me to go there immediately.

Geugeugeuk.

The violently moving energy within me. The energy, which was difficult to grasp due to the lack of a vessel, was enough to turn my insides upside down.

Just as I was voicing my doubts about this.

“Eueum?”

The Master tilted their head, looking at me.

“…What is it?”

An expression of surprise was heard, and the ongoing bombardment stopped for a moment.

“This is strange.”

The voice grew closer. The distance was clearly far, yet the voice felt strangely close. This seemed to mean the Master had properly recognized me.

“Why.”

The problem was.

“Do I feel the divinity of Manggye from that place?”

At the same time, the level of the converging energy changed once again. A level different from before. My body trembled from the dreadfully emanating energy.

The moment I flinched and trembled.

Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaa—-!!!!!

An immense shock vibrated.

Paaaah-!!

The barrier shattered into pieces, creating a huge gap. The barrier tried to regenerate once more, but the Master’s steps were faster.

Tuk.

By the time I noticed, the Master had already set foot on the ground. As the small, white feet touched the ground, a miracle occurred.

Paseuseuseu.

Starting from her toes, green vitality began to sprout on the ruined ground. The damaged land was restored, and the heavy air became somewhat lighter. Conversely, the tension was palpable.

As I faced the Master with trembling eyes.

She looked at Cheonma, together with me, at a distance.

“Two Dragons. And furthermore, both possess divinity.”

The Master of Manggye tilted their head.

“This is strange. How could I not have known this?”

Gugugugung-! The black sky swirled. Perhaps because the barrier was meaningless, the released energy began to gather in one place.

Then.

“…It’s not a clone.”

The turtle spoke, looking at the Master.

“Manggye… Did you come in your true form?”

At those words, the Master’s eyes turned towards the turtle.

“You had to come. If you were making this much noise, how could you not come?”

“…Taekcheon came.”

At the turtle’s words, the Master’s eyes narrowed.

“Taekcheon?”

“Yes. He came to Manggye and meddled.”

“That can’t be.”

The Master shook their head.

“I didn’t feel anything like that.”

“It’s true. We…”

“Shh.”

“…!”

At the small voice, the turtle’s mouth fell silent. As if unable to speak, the turtle contorted its expression.

“I don’t entertain pointless questions. Unfortunately, I’m quite tired right now.”

The miracle that spread in all directions enveloped the entire space. Just as the ground, ruined by the fierce battle, was completely dyed with vitality.

Kugagagagak-!!!

The black energy that was in the sky plummeted to the ground. It was a large amount of energy, but the energy that fell to the ground quickly reduced in size. And by the time the energy had disappeared.

“Keureureureung.”

It took the shape of a small dog. It was Mujeogaeng.

“Mujeogaeng.”

Manggye narrowed its eyes, looking at Mujeogaeng.

“You’ve become quite small.”

“Keureureureu…….”

“You’re even in your true form. Where did you leave all your divinity? What exactly do you intend to do?”

It was an attitude of constant displeasure.

“Fulfill your karma. While you were away, Manggye has been falling apart.”

“Keureureureu-!”

Mujeogaeng merely howled with hostility even at Manggye’s words. At that action, the woman finally frowned.

“…You don’t understand, do you.”

What could possibly be the reason?

“It looks like you’re trying to protect them.”

Mujeogaeng stood protecting me, showing hostility towards Manggye. As if unable to comprehend that at all, Manggye continuously frowned.

“Perhaps, Yongje? Did he do something to you?”

“Keureu!”

“We already sealed and banished him, how could that happen?”

The crimson eyes trembled. It was alien. Looking at it, it couldn’t be more alien.

‘Oblivion.’

Is this what it means to be punished? A form that trusts nothing and seems to only follow predetermined procedures. I couldn’t help but feel confusion at the sight of the Master, my mother, but.

“…Never mind.”

Due to what followed, I couldn’t even do that.

“I suppose I just need to remove them.”

The voice was heard right in front of me. The Master had approached right in front of me. I hadn’t noticed.

“Oh no…!”

“Keureureu!”

The turtle and Mujeogaeng reacted, but the Master’s hand had already reached for my neck. It was fast.

The moment their fingertips touched my neck.

Jjirit.

“Eum…?”

“…Keuk!?”

A brief pain was felt from my skin. It was a truly short and strange pain. As my eyes widened at the sensation, like static electricity.

-Listen well.

A voice echoed from within. It’s the Ancestor. It’s the Ancestor’s voice.

-I don’t have time, so I’ll speak briefly.

‘What is this all of a sudden…?’

-This is the arrangement your mother prepared. Furthermore.

There wasn’t even time to answer. Because not only my mouth, but the entire world had stopped. Exactly in the state where the Master’s hand was touching my neck. Just as I was realizing something about the situation that felt familiar from somewhere.

-Descendant. This is a warning.

The Ancestor spoke.

-No matter what you do when you go, nothing will change. Keep only this in mind.

As those incomprehensible words began, my vision was scorched black.